Five sporting moments etched in my memory

1. The Championship that never was

Interlagos, 2008.

In the Brazilian GP, the crowd favourite and local driver, Felipe Massa, had the title sewn up and was cruising to become the first Brazilian to win the Driver’s Championship after Ayrton Senna. On the final lap, Lewis Hamilton, still needed to make up one more place to snatch the title from under Massa’s nose. That was when, Jarno Trulli’s, Toyota inexplicably slowed down to leave the Massa family stunned and all the fans red-faced.

P.S: It made Karun Chandhok famous too as he was the first to realise that Lewis had won.

2. Zizou loses it

Italy vs France , FIFA World Cup Final, 2006.

The best French player of his generation, Zinedine Zidane, put France ahead and went close to scoring another in extra time. In the 105^th minute, Zizou lost both, his composure and the World Cup, by headbutting Marco Materrazi and getting sent off in the process. He left the pitch and us with the question: “ Did he just headbutt the World Cup away? “

3. When the dream ‘slipped’ away

Champions League Final 2008, Moscow.

Manchester United vs Chelsea. The game had been a very tight affair and would be decided by spot-kicks. Chelsea’s captain-fantastic, John Terry, stepped up to take the last penalty of the stipulated five. But, he slipped while taking the penalty breaking Chelsea supporters’ hearts and sending the United fans into ecstasy. It proved to be decisive in the end as Nicolas Anelka missed a penalty and Manchester United ended up winning the Champions League.

4. Cricket was the winner

Edgbaston, Ashes 2005.

Australia and England have been battling away in the second test and Australia were just three runs away from taking an almost unassailable 2-0 lead in the series. The last pair of Brett Lee and Michael Kasprowicz had added a gutsy 59 for the final wicket with Lee taking several blows on his body from Flintoff and Harmison. With the situation tense and the Aussie dressing room expectant, Harmison sent the crowd into delirium by having Kasprowicz caught down the leg-side. But the lasting memory of this match was Andrew Flintoff embracing Brett Lee after the match which made cricket the ultimate winner.

5. Zulu can’t cap it off

South Africa vs. Australia, Semi-Final, ICC World Cup 1999.

The best player of the tournament, Lance Klusener, had kept South Africa in the match and brought it down to nine runs required off the final over with just one wicket in hand. Zulu hit two blistering boundaries leaving the scores tied with 4 balls to go. Then, madness reigned supreme as Zulu called Allan Donald for a non-existent single to spark off wild Aussie celebrations. The South African Cricket Team has still not been able to shake off the ‘Chokers’ tag since then.